4 Auburn players still weighing NFL Draft decisions

Forgive Derrick Brown if he hasn’t given much consideration to his future plans just yet. The Auburn junior defensive tackle’s mind has been elsewhere the last couple of weeks — and for good reason.

On Dec. 20, Brown became a father, welcoming his firstborn son, Kai Asher Brown, to the world.

“It’s just all been a whirlwind for me,” said Brown.

Now that his junior season is over, culminating in a 63-14 demolishing of Purdue in Friday’s Music City Bowl, Brown has a decision to make: return to Auburn for his senior season or declare early for the NFL Draft, where he is expected to be an early-round selection should he enter his name.

Brown finished his season with 48 total tackles, including 10.5 for a loss and 4.5 sacks while adding six quarterback hurries, a pair of pass breakups and a forced fumble. He earned second-team All-SEC honors this season.

The 6-foot-5, 325-pounder is one of four Auburn players weighing the decision to turn pro, as quarterback Jarrett Stidham and cornerback Jamel Dean have already done, or return to the Plains for one more season. The others? Defensive end Marlon Davidson, offensive tackle Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. and cornerback Javaris Davis.

None of the four has come to a decision just yet, and if they have, they weren’t tipping their hands after the Music City Bowl.

“I’m not even sure what I’m going to do yet,” Brown said. “I know the first thing I’m going to do is go home and see my son, so I’m excited about that.”

Brown, who sought feedback from the NFL’s College Advisory Committee, said he will make a decision in the next two weeks before the start of the spring semester. Classes at Auburn start up again Jan. 9.

Davidson and Wanogho are in the same camp.

Davidson finished his junior campaign with 46 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks, three pass breakups and 11 quarterback hurries. He also blocked three field goals during a three-week span earlier in the year.

“I really don’t know,” Davidson said of his decision. “I really ain’t think too much of it. It’s just a decision. It’s a big one but you’ve just got to make it in life.”

The 6-foot-3, 278-pounder said he has sought feedback from various resources, including the NFL’s College Advisory Committee. He has heard different things, he said, including a potential third-round grade as well as advice to return to school for his senior season.

He will sit down with his coaches and family before making his ultimate decision.

“I heard a lot,” Davidson said. “It’s just stuff you got to go by, you know. Just have fun. I’m just living my best life right now.”

If both Davidson and Brown declare, Auburn would lose three starters from its defensive line, including both starting tackles with senior Dontavius Russell exhausting his eligibility. Even if that happens, both Brown and Davidson are confident there wouldn’t be much, if any drop-off in production from the line in 2019.

“They got some real dogs in there,” Brown said. “They didn’t get a chance to play a bunch, but I mean, those are guys that are in there — if I left, then I would have no problem leaving it to those guys, putting it down in their hands. At the end of the day, Auburn’s going to be Auburn without Derrick Brown and Dontavius Russell, so those guys are going to learn the culture and they’re going to be dominant.”

Davis, who had 41 tackles, eight pass breakups, two interceptions and a sack this season, said he plans to sit down with his mom now that the season is over and discuss his future. The 5-foot-10, 187-pound Davis was strong in coverage this season for Auburn while moving to nickel.

Wanogho, meanwhile, is one of the more intriguing prospects. While Auburn’s offensive line struggled often this season, Wanogho was the most consistent of the group while starting at left tackle. The 6-foot-7, 307-pounder has an NFL-ready body and freakish athleticism, but he is still developing as an offensive tackle after picking up football in high school at Edgewood Academy and originally signing with the Tigers as a defensive lineman.

Wanogho said he also sought feedback from the NFL’s College Advisory Committee, though he did not want to disclose what kind of draft grade he received.

"Right now, I'm not really sure,” Wanogho said. “I'm not really sure right now. I'm going to sit with my family and we're going to discuss and try to see where I'm at and we're going to decide. But right now, I'm just trying to enjoy this one.”

Underclassmen have until Jan. 14 to declare for the NFL Draft.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.